5 Ways to Fake a Bedroom in a Studio Apartment
If you don’t want your bed to dominate your studio apartment, try one of these options to set your sleeping zone apart
The high price of real estate in many North American cities often means a competitive rental market. Sometimes the most affordable living option is renting a classic studio apartment — or in some cases, buying one.
But living in one room is a design challenge, to be sure, with the main problem centered around privacy. Just how do we reconcile having our bed in such open proximity to the kitchen and living zones, especially if we plan to entertain? While having an actual bedroom may be impossible in one-room living, it is possible to create a private bed zone that achieves the seclusion we need — along with some creative style. Whether you rent or own your studio, here are five possible solutions.
But living in one room is a design challenge, to be sure, with the main problem centered around privacy. Just how do we reconcile having our bed in such open proximity to the kitchen and living zones, especially if we plan to entertain? While having an actual bedroom may be impossible in one-room living, it is possible to create a private bed zone that achieves the seclusion we need — along with some creative style. Whether you rent or own your studio, here are five possible solutions.
The bedroom in this fabulous studio apartment is placed in an alcove and cordoned off with drapery, separating it from the adjacent dining spot. The great thing about using fabric is that you can play with color and pattern while you hide your bed away.
A closer shot of this studio’s bedroom zone shows that the drapery is hung on a line. You could just as easily use a thicker curtain rod if that works for your space.
Browse curtains
A closer shot of this studio’s bedroom zone shows that the drapery is hung on a line. You could just as easily use a thicker curtain rod if that works for your space.
Browse curtains
2. Install a Solid Divider
It may not be possible for you to actually build a wall to create a bedroom in your studio apartment, but you can sure mimic the function of one.
Faux wall. Here, a wall of wooden slats sections off a private area for the bed, separating it from the adjacent living quarters. As this photo shows, the faux wall also makes a great backdrop for a console table.
It may not be possible for you to actually build a wall to create a bedroom in your studio apartment, but you can sure mimic the function of one.
Faux wall. Here, a wall of wooden slats sections off a private area for the bed, separating it from the adjacent living quarters. As this photo shows, the faux wall also makes a great backdrop for a console table.
This photo shows a different angle of the small space and how the slatted divider acts as a backdrop for art.
If you’re handy, you can achieve this look by attaching wood strapping (or furring strips) to two-by-fours, and then attaching the two-by-fours to your bed. If securing a divider to the bed isn’t possible, you may be able to install it directly to the ceiling with L-brackets. Be sure to always get permission from the landlord before doing anything that affects the walls or ceiling.
If this project is beyond your capabilities, a contractor or handy person can devise a solution for you that achieves the same effect. Once the wall is built, you (or your hired professional) can give the wood a white-wash stain, such as in this photo, or paint it the color of your choice.
Try Whitewash Paint to Enhance 6 Distinct Design Styles
If you’re handy, you can achieve this look by attaching wood strapping (or furring strips) to two-by-fours, and then attaching the two-by-fours to your bed. If securing a divider to the bed isn’t possible, you may be able to install it directly to the ceiling with L-brackets. Be sure to always get permission from the landlord before doing anything that affects the walls or ceiling.
If this project is beyond your capabilities, a contractor or handy person can devise a solution for you that achieves the same effect. Once the wall is built, you (or your hired professional) can give the wood a white-wash stain, such as in this photo, or paint it the color of your choice.
Try Whitewash Paint to Enhance 6 Distinct Design Styles
Bookcase. A large, open shelving unit makes a natural divider for a bedroom area in a studio. In this photo, a colorful, eclectic mix of books and collectibles is artfully arranged on the shelves. The arrangement catches the eye so well that you might barely notice the bed located on the other side, neatly tucked into a private, cozy corner. You can find many available options like this online; this one is from Ikea.
Bookshelf: Kallax, Ikea; find more bookshelves
Bookshelf: Kallax, Ikea; find more bookshelves
Here’s another example of using a tall bookshelf to divide living spaces, in this case the sitting area from the sleeping zone.
Barn door on a track. This look has become tremendously popular in home design over the past several years, and it can be a wonderful solution in your studio as a bedroom divider. If you rent, you’ll need to ask permission from your landlord or property management company before installing these.
Since the track needs to be mounted to something structural, as in this photo, you will probably need to hire a contractor for assistance with installing a beam or header, or some such kind of supporting piece onto which the track can be installed.
Since the track needs to be mounted to something structural, as in this photo, you will probably need to hire a contractor for assistance with installing a beam or header, or some such kind of supporting piece onto which the track can be installed.
3. Tuck Your Bed Into the Wall
It’s been around for more than a hundred years and the design just keeps getting better: The Murphy bed, or fold-up wall bed, is often just the ticket for studio apartments. What’s so great about it? Well, it folds up into the wall, freeing up valuable square footage for socializing and everyday living.
It’s been around for more than a hundred years and the design just keeps getting better: The Murphy bed, or fold-up wall bed, is often just the ticket for studio apartments. What’s so great about it? Well, it folds up into the wall, freeing up valuable square footage for socializing and everyday living.
Typically, you’ll need to purchase a Murphy bed kit, which you can do at many furniture stores, big box home stores or online through a wall bed company. They range in price, depending on whether you want a more elaborate wall unit storage system or a smaller, single fold-up bed system.
This fold-up bed is built right into the infrastructure of the living room, barely disturbing the sofa when it is unfolded.
This fold-up bed is built right into the infrastructure of the living room, barely disturbing the sofa when it is unfolded.
4. Build a Loft
A popular design choice for children’s rooms, vacation homes and small spaces in general, raising the bed is also a savvy move for the studio apartment. It frees up the floor space for storage, sitting and dining areas and provides the bed privacy you need.
A popular design choice for children’s rooms, vacation homes and small spaces in general, raising the bed is also a savvy move for the studio apartment. It frees up the floor space for storage, sitting and dining areas and provides the bed privacy you need.
This loft bed is built on top of bookshelves and a desk area, creating two zones out of one physical space.
If you own your apartment, you could certainly hire a designer to create a built-in loft that works for you. If you rent, there are many standalone loft bed kits available for purchase that don’t require any structural change to the space. Just be sure that you either have the skills — or get help from someone who does — to ensure that your lofted bed will be safe and stable.
If you own your apartment, you could certainly hire a designer to create a built-in loft that works for you. If you rent, there are many standalone loft bed kits available for purchase that don’t require any structural change to the space. Just be sure that you either have the skills — or get help from someone who does — to ensure that your lofted bed will be safe and stable.
Another option that may be best for a studio owner, given the time and financial investment it requires, is to build actual bed quarters up high in the room, as shown in this photo. This option may not actually save floor space, but it sure looks great, and it separates the bed space from the living zone, resulting in a private nook. Another advantage is the great storage space that can be built in beneath this element.
Again, this option would likely require the help of a professional — unless you have very good, and by this we mean professional-level, construction skills yourself.
Again, this option would likely require the help of a professional — unless you have very good, and by this we mean professional-level, construction skills yourself.
5. Double Your Function With a Daybed
We’ll leave you with the simplest of the five options for creating a bed zone in a studio — and this one involves nothing more than a bit of visual trickery. If you can bear the thought of your friends eating chips and dip on what is actually your bed — but doesn’t look like your bed — then a day bed may be the right choice for you.
The responsibility is on you to style it during the day, though. Be sure to designate a spot to store your bedding during the day, and scatter some colorful toss cushions on your daybed, as shown in this photo, so it passes safely as a sofa and looks fabulous in your space.
We’ll leave you with the simplest of the five options for creating a bed zone in a studio — and this one involves nothing more than a bit of visual trickery. If you can bear the thought of your friends eating chips and dip on what is actually your bed — but doesn’t look like your bed — then a day bed may be the right choice for you.
The responsibility is on you to style it during the day, though. Be sure to designate a spot to store your bedding during the day, and scatter some colorful toss cushions on your daybed, as shown in this photo, so it passes safely as a sofa and looks fabulous in your space.
You can find many versions of the classic daybed online as well as in brick-and-mortar stores. The one in this photo tucks neatly into this window corner, making it also function as a window seat.
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Fabric drapes are perhaps the most cost-effective solution for demarcating a bedroom zone in a studio apartment. It’s also an option most people can do themselves, or with the help of a friend. The draped division in this photo is sweet and simple, held up by a line that keeps the peekaboo bed area snug and private.